Plancheite
was named after French
explorer, J. Planche, who supplied samples to Alfred Lacroix from Mindouli who
first described the
mineral. The samples were found by Planche at the Sanda
Mine, Mindouli, Pool Departmant, Republic of Congo.
Plancheite is a rare secondary mineral formed
in the oxidation zone of copper deposits. It is a hydrated copper silicate mineral
and is closely related to Shattuckite in structure and appearance.
The two minerals are often confused. Like so many other
secondary copper minerals, Plancheite is colorful, attractive
and has interesting crystal habits that are typically
fibrous, compact radial aggregates. It is often
found associated with other colorful secondary copper
minerals such as Chrysocolla,
Conichalcite,
Dioptase,
Malachite,
Shattuckite and
Brochantite.

Distribution:
From Mindouli, Renéville, and Tshiniama, Congo
Republic. In Congo (Zaire), fine material from Tantara,
Mindigi, and M'sesa, near Kambove, Katanga (Shaba) Province.
From Tsumeb, Guchab, and Okatumba, about 80 km east
of Windhoek, Namibia. In England, at the Driggith mine,
Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria; the Gunheath china clay pit,
St. Austell, Cornwall; and the Engine vein, Alderley
Edge, Cheshire. In the USA, in Arizona, from the Table
Mountain mine, Galiuro Mountains, and the Azurite mine,
Tortolita Mountains, Pinal County; in the Bighorn district,
south of Aguila, Maricopa County; in the Harquehala
Mountains, Yuma County; and elsewhere. In Michigan,
from the Algomah mine, Ontonagon County. In the Kurokawa
mine, Gifu Prefecture, and the Kisanmori mine, Akita
Prefecture, Japan. From La Rioja, Argentina.

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